South Dakota has six National Wildlife Refuges and six
Wetland Management Districts.

Huron WMD has the greatest
abundance and diversity of prairie wetlands in eastern South Dakota. This vast array of
prairie plants and animals offers excellent environmental education, wildlife viewing and
photographic opportunities.

Tall cottonwoods, combined with the availability of a primary diet of
fish, make the Karl Mundt NWR ideal habitat for nesting and
wintering bald eagles. While the Refuge is closed to the public, these impressive birds
may be seen from an observation point below the Fort Randall Dam.

The wetlands atLacreek NWR provides a staging area for ducks, geese, sandhills
cranes, raptors, and shorebirds during spring and fall migration in western South
Dakota. The Refuge is an ideal place to view wildlife at close range.

Lake Andes NWR and
WMD provides viewing opportunities for nearly every species of bird or mammal
indigenous to the Prairie Pothole Region.

Madison WMD is located in
the heart of the Prairie Pothole\Tall Grass Prairie ecosystem. The picturesque prairie
landscape inspired early pioneers such as author Laura Ingalls Wilder and artist Harvey
Dunn.

Sand Lake NWR has the distinction
of being designated a "Wetland of International Importance". The honor
comes from the tremendous value the Refuge provides to colonial nesting birds and water
birds including egrets, herons, white-faced ibis, grebes, gulls and terns. The only
confirmed nesting of the common moorhen in the state of South Dakota is at Sand Lake, and
the Refuge has been home to the world's largest nesting colony of Franklin's gulls.

Waubay NWR and WMD offer a
spectacular vista of forested islands, lakes, wetlands, and grasslands in the heart of the
scenic Prairie Coteau (prairie hills) Region.